Thursday, January 20, 2011

Pottery barn inspired stool

I love you Pottery Barn! I often browse through your catalog, stalk your web pages, and go to your store for inspiration. You stimulate my creativity and for that I am thankful. Recently, I have been looking for a vanity chair for my daughter's bedroom and Pottery Barn has the perfect chair. See picture below and fall in love:

I just adore the shape of this chair and the fact that it swivels is a huge bonus! The pink chair would be perfect in my little girls room. Unfortunately, I don't love the price tag: $229.00!! What??? Sorry Pottery Barn, you and I both know I am too thrifty to spend that kind of money on a stool.

As I was browsing through the pages of Craigslist, I hit the jackpot! Well maybe not a jackpot, but seriously how lucky could I get?? Take a look at this:

Look kind of familiar? This is where you scroll up and check out how similar this stool is to the Pottery Barn stool. Oh yes I am EXCITED!! The price tag on this beauty: $40.00!!!!

My plan is to paint it white and re-upholster the seat. Easy peasy! (By the way I have never upholstered anything in my life)

I first took the chair off the base. Good so far.

Have my tools:

I then get to removing staples. Who knew that such a small piece of furniture could hold so many staples! This experience has given me a whole new respect for people who upholster furniture for a living. 300 and something staples later (could be more, who knows! seemed like 1000!) and four cuts on my hands, all the staples are out!

The above pictures are during the staple removing process. My plan is simple: try to remember the way I took the chair apart and ues the old fabric as an outline for the new. There is piping around the chair, so I will cut strips of fabric to cover some new piping. Then, I will staple staple staple my little heart away. Here we go:

This is the first time I have ever made piping. I did a little research online and found a process that seemed pretty simple. I first cut a strip of fabric about three inches wide that is the length of the area that the piping is going to go on. I then used some piping that I purchased from a fabric store for .25 cents a yard. Fold the fabric around the piping and secure with fabric pins. I then sewed it in place. Pretty simple!

In the mean time I also painted the base of the stool a nice white. Here it is:

I stretched, I stapled, I even broke out my hot glue gun, The result, I think, is pretty amazing for a first time upholsterer:

A beautiful addition to a beautiful room. I am so patting myself on the back for this one!

What do you think of the chair and the fabric choice? I love hearing from you!!

15 comments:

Your blogs are soooo entertaining, interesting and informative!! Love your Pottery Barn inspired chair...marvelous job. I do believe that this chair was the icing on the cake for your daughters bedroom! What did the chair end up costing you? I'm now anxious to see your project with the tourquoise paint!! I'll be checking in on you and your fabulous blog!!

Thank you! I do love the chair in the room! It looks perfect in there. I was even able to get the exact material that is on the bed skirt. Perfect!! You will have to wait until Monday to see the turquoise paint! It will be worth it though. As always, thanks for the nice comments!!

That is seriously amazing. First of all what a find on Craigslist. It looks so much like the original. Love what you did. That desk is pretty awesome too. I found you over at Knock Off Decor. I am your latest follower. I would love for you to come and check out my blog and follow me back at www.diybydesign.blogspot.com. Thanks so much.